Portable game device and method of use

ABSTRACT

A playing field is used with a drinking game involving a plurality of cups. It has a playing surface with a means for maintaining the playing surface in a horizontal position. The playing surface is disposed on a planar member and has cup-receiving recesses. In some embodiments, the playing field is a planar member that rests upon a table, while in other embodiments the playing field is a table. The planar member may have first and second portions that are joined along an edge of each portion. The playing surface may be adapted for illumination from at least one light source positioned below the playing surface. A raised edge may be provided around a periphery of the playing surface, especially with a plurality of cup-receiving recesses along each of a pair of opposing sides of the playing surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. provisional application Ser.No. 60/670,539, filed 12 Apr. 2005, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference as if fully recited herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of game tables. Moreparticularly, the present invention is a device for providing a playsurface for one or more popular drinking games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many types of drinking games that require the use of a planarplaying surface, especially a table. Among these are games commonlyreferred to as “Beer Pong” and “Flip-Cup.”

In “Beer Pong” and its variants, cups containing a beverage, typicallyan alcoholic beverage, are placed near opposing ends of the playsurface, in a configuration determined by the rules of the particulargame. The game is played by two sides, each side consisting of one ormore players, but usually with an equal number of players on each side.The sides stand at the respective ends of the playing surface, behindone set of the cups. In turn, a player from each side attempts to propelan object, usually a ball, and typically a ping-pong ball, from theteam's end of the playing surface into one of the cups at the oppositeend of the playing surface, causing it to rest therein. In some variantsof the game, the object is thrown; in other variants, the object isbatted with a paddle or the like. In some variants of the game, the sideon the offense has the opportunity to take two successive attempts.

Depending upon the particular set of rules adopted, the defending sidemay defend its cups. In one variation, no defense is permitted, yet inother variants, the defending side may use hands, a paddle or the like.If a ball comes to rest in a defending side's cup, the defending sidemust drink the contents thereof and the cup is removed from the playingfield. When two balls are used and the offensive side is successful inlanding both in the cups, the defensive side may be required to removean additional cup from play and drink its contents. As cups are removedfrom play, some rule variations allow (or require) re-arrangement of theremaining cups. The side to remove all of the opponent's cups from theplaying surface is the winner, and most rule variations require that thecontents of any cups remaining on the winning side's end of the playingsurface must be consumed by the losing side.

It is common to play the game of “Beer Pong” in a round-robin orelimination-type tournament, with many matches occurring in a venue on anumber of playing surfaces. In such a format, the state of inebriationof each side may depend upon its success (or lack thereof) in priormatches.

The cups used in the game are usually of the disposable, plasticvariety, typically with about a capacity of from about 10 to about 16liquid ounces. A typical material for such a cup is poly(ethyleneterephthalate), sometimes referred to as PETE. An amount of a beverage(usually 3 to 6 ounces) is added to each cup at the start of the game.Based on a 12-ounce can or bottle, about 2 to about 5 cans or bottleswill be used per team per game to achieve this. A ping pong ball, with anominal diameter of about 4 cm, will be about one-half the diameter ofthe open end of the cup, so it a reasonably sized for the game. Also,with its light weight and density, the ping pong ball keeps splashingdown from that which would occur with a denser ball.

The preferred playing field for this game is from about six to abouteight feet long, with a width in the range of from about two to aboutthree feet. The cups are typically arranged within 18 inches from an endof the playing field, but usually no closer than about 4 inches from anend. As such, the preferred playing field is slightly shorter in lengththan a conventional table tennis table, and about one-half as wide. Thepreferred playing field is similar in shape and size to that of thesurface of a door. The playing field is usually placed in a flathorizontal position about 29 inches off of the floor, that is, at theapproximate height of a conventional table.

Until now, Beer Pong players have had to play the game on a variety ofmakeshift playing fields, including kitchen tables, homemade tables, andold doors, all of which are generally inadequate. Since the size of theplaying surface is not standardized and because it is not primarilyintended for use in the game, the cups are not placed consistentlythereon. This can unfairly affect the difficulty of the game. To promotefairness, it is important that cups are placed in the same starting andregrouping positions on each end of the playing surface, and that thisplacement is consistent from game to game. It is therefore desirable forthe game to be played on a surface that mandates the correct placementof cups.

Published US Patent application 2005/0029747 A1 to Grayson describes adrinking game cup holder that provides a plurality of cup-receivingopenings. The holder places the cups within the holder in a correctrelationship, but it does not provide a means for correctly positioningthe cups at the opposite ends relative to each other. To this extent,the Grayson '747 published application exemplifies the fact that thegame has been commonly played on a variety of make-shift playing fields.

Published US Patent application 2004/0188942 A1 to Trokan describes anon-alcoholic drinking game system, but the invention is concerned withthe game rules and physical properties of the balls used in the game.While the published Trokan '942 discloses the triangular arrangement ofthe drinking cups used and the general size of the playing field used,it does not describe a playing field particularly adapted for use withthe game.

“Flip Cup” is another drinking game that is played in many of the samevenues as “Beer Pong.” In “Flip Cup,” two opposing teams line up acrossfrom each other at a table. Each player has a cup, filled with beverage.Starting at one end of the table, the first player on each team consumesthe beverage in his cup and places the emptied cup, upright, along thetable edge, with a portion of the cup bottom extending over the edge.The player strikes this portion of the cup bottom from below, attemptingto flip the cup into an upside down position on the table. If theattempt is unsuccessful, the player places the cup again and repeats theflip attempt until successful. The game proceeds in the manner of arelay race, with each team member starting only after the prior teammember has succeeded. The first team to successfully drink and flip allof its cups is the winner.

As with Beer Pong, Flip Cup can become very messy. The ability tocontain spillage on the table is quite desirable. It is also desirableto have a landing surface that is slight lower than the flippingsurface. It can be difficult to find a playing surface that is longenough to accommodate enough Flip Cup players, since Flip Cup is oftenplayed at large parties, where many players wish to participate.

Even in a commercial drinking establishment, it may be desirable to havea portable playing surface for playing games such as Beer Pong and/orFlip Cup, so that the playing surface may be readily moved for cleaningand may be readily stowed away when not in use.

It is therefore an unmet advantage of the prior art to provide astandardized playing surface for drinking games such as Beer Pong and/orFlip Cup that is readily portable and easily cleaned after use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other advantages are provided by a playing field for use with adrinking game involving a plurality of cups. The playing field comprisesa planar playing surface and a means for maintaining the playing surfacein a horizontal position. The playing surface is disposed on a planarmember and is adapted for placement of the plurality of cups on theplaying surface.

In some embodiments, the position-maintaining means comprises a planarsurface opposite the playing surface, while in other embodiments, theposition-maintaining means comprises a set of support legs.

In some embodiments, the planar member comprises first and secondportions that are joined along an edge of each portion.

A plurality of cup-receiving recesses formed at each end of the playingsurface provide for the placement of the cups.

In some embodiments, the playing surface is adapted for illuminationfrom at least one light source positioned therebelow.

Many embodiments of the invention further comprise a raised edge arounda periphery of the playing surface, particularly with a plurality ofcup-receiving recesses along the raised edge on each of a pair ofopposing sides of the playing surface.

The planar member may comprise a surface layer with a plurality ofapertures therethrough, the surface layer affixed to an underlying layerso that the apertures and the thickness of the surface layer define thesize and depth of the cup-receiving recesses. The surface layer ispreferably polymeric material, especially an ABS material.

In a particular embodiment, the playing surface is from about six toabout eight feet long and from about two to about three feet wide, eachcup-receiving recess has a diameter in the range of from about 2 toabout 2.5 inches and a depth of about 0.25 inches. The cup-receivingrecesses are in a triangular arrangement of ten recesses near each endof the playing surface, with an apex of each triangular arrangementpointing at the opposite end of the playing surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features and advantages of the present invention, in additionto those mentioned above, will become apparent to those skilled in theart from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein identical reference charactersrefer to identical parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a playing field according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the playing fieldequipped with support legs to form a play table; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the playing fieldequipped with support legs to form a play table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In a first embodiment of the invention, a playing field 10 is providedfor use with a drinking game involving a plurality of cups. As shown inplan view in FIG. 1, such a playing field comprises a member 12 with atleast a front planar surface 14 that is adapted for receiving theplurality of cups in a configuration that is consistent with the rulesof the drinking game. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar surface14 is in the range of from about 6 to about 8 feet in length and fromabout two to about three feet in width.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the member 12 comprisesfirst and second portions 16, 18, that are connected to each other alonga common edge 20, so that the two portions form the planar surface 14.Connection of first and second portions 16, 18 can be achieved by anumber of conventional means that will be known to those familiar withconnecting table sections and the like to form a stable, planar surface,especially one that may be easily broken down in component parts formore compact storage. Once connected, the connecting means should retainthe portions 16, 18 in position.

In the embodiment illustrated, each of the portions 16, 18 is adapted toreceive one of the plurality of cups, in a configuration consistent withthe rules of the game. In a variation of the game selected forillustration, ten recesses 22 are positioned in a triangular arrangementnear each end of the playing field 10, similar to the arrangement usedto arrange ten bowling pins in the game of bowling, with an apex of thetriangle pointing at the opposing end of the playing field. Each recess22 is sized and shaped to receive the base of a cup to be used in thegame. A typical recess 22 will be circular with a diameter in the 2 to2.5 inch range, and with a depth of 0.25 inches or less. The recess 22is to provide approximate placement of a cup and not to retain the cupsecurely. The ability to tip the cup out of the recess 22 is a normalelement of the game.

In some variations of the game, the removal of cups will result inre-arrangement of the remaining cups in the recesses 22. This isdifferent, for example, from the game of bowling, where the standingpins are not re-arranged. To facilitate this possibility, the individualrecesses 22 may be distinguished from each other by the placement ofindicia, such as colors, letters or numbers, in or near each recess. Inany configuration provided, it is anticipated that each end of theplaying field 10 will be identically adapted for receiving the cups,both in terms of size and shape of the recesses 22 and any markings orindicia associated therewith.

A further feature of the present invention, while disclosed in FIG. 1,is considered optional, although it is a desirable option. A raised edge24 is positioned around a periphery of the member 12, and particularlyaround a periphery of the front planar surface 14. In the illustratedembodiment, this raised edge 24 is about 2 inches high and about 4inches wide. However, this width is intended so that the raised edge maybe useful for playing the game Flip Cup, and in other embodiments, thewidth may be smaller. Also, the height of raised edge 24 may be varied.In the embodiment shown, a number of recesses 26 are located along anouter periphery of the raised edge 24 along the sides of the member 12.These recesses 26, which are typically the same size as the recesses 22,would be circular if they were positioned further inboard from the outerperiphery. But, because they are centered less than one radius away fromthe outer edge, they allow a portion of the bottom of a cup placed inone of them to be exposed from below, enabling the flipping of the cupform below, in the manner described above with reference to the rules ofFlip Cup. In a typical embodiment, these recesses 26 will be centered ona point that is about 0.5R away from the outer edge, where R is theradius of the recess 26.

Regardless of whether the raised edge 24 is provided with Flip Cuprecesses 26, an inner periphery of the raised edge, particularly acontinuous inner periphery, is useful with the game of Beer Pong byretaining spilled liquids, tipped cups, rolling balls and the like onthe playing field 10.

While there are a number of construction techniques available forproducing the playing field 12 of the present invention, the recesses 22in the front planar surface 14 and the optional recesses 26 in theoptional raised edge 24 suggest a construction based on laminatedlayers. A polymeric material, such as an acrylic material likepoly(methyl methacrylate) or an ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene)material, would be useful as a layer for the front planar surface. Ifthis layer has the thickness of the recesses 22, then circular holes maybe cut through the layer and the layer can be laminated to a solidunderlying layer, thereby forming the recesses 22. In such anembodiment, selection of a transparent, and particularly, a colorlesstransparent, layer, provides a number of advantages, including theability to place board markings on the underlying layer or permittingillumination sources, particularly LED lights, positioned in theunderlying layer, to show through the top layer.

Similarly, raised edge 24 may comprise an upper and a lower layer of theselected material (or materials).

In some embodiments, and depending upon the materials selected for thelayers, a further base layer or layers may be used, especially toprovide structural support or stability to the playing field 10. Thisbase layer is also useful for providing an appropriate surface forattaching legs or the like.

As shown in the perspective view in FIG. 2 and the side elevational viewin FIG. 3, the member 12 has first and second support members 40, eachof which is shown as being constructed of a continuous piece of metalthat serves as a leg. However, in other embodiments the support members40 may be shaped differently. They may be permanently affixed to thebase layer of the member 12 or they may be removably attached. Those ofskill in the art of constructing tables will readily appreciate thevariations available for this issue. Preferably, one support member isprovided at each end of the member, or, if the member comprises firstand second portions 16, 18, one support member 40 should be providedbeneath each portion.

Accordingly, the present invention is beneficial in that it providesBeer Pong players with a regulation-sized table that gives consistentpositioning of game pieces and reduces spillage to the floor. The raisededge reduces spillage and game interruptions.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention,those skilled in the art will realize that many variations andmodifications may be made to affect the described invention and still bewithin the scope of the claimed invention. Thus, many of the elementsindicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements whichwill provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimedinvention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention onlyas indicated by the scope of the claims.

1. A playing field for use with a drinking game involving a plurality ofcups, the playing field comprising: a planar playing surface; and ameans for maintaining the playing surface in a horizontal position. 2.The playing field of claim 1, wherein: the playing surface is disposedon a planar member, the playing surface being adapted for placement ofthe plurality of cups thereupon.
 3. The playing field of claim 2,wherein: the position-maintaining means comprises a planar surfaceopposite the playing surface.
 4. The playing field of claim 2, wherein:the position-maintaining means comprises a set of support legs.
 5. Theplaying field of claim 2, wherein: the planar member comprises first andsecond portions, the respective portions hingedly joined along an edgeof each portion.
 6. The playing field of claim 2, wherein: a pluralityof cup-receiving recesses formed at each end thereof adapt the playingsurface for placement of the cups.
 7. The playing field of claim 2,wherein: the playing surface is adapted for illumination from at leastone light source positioned therebelow.
 8. The playing field of claim 2,further comprising: a raised edge around a periphery of the playingsurface.
 9. The playing field of claim 8, further comprising: aplurality of cup-receiving recesses along the raised edge on each of apair of opposing sides of the playing surface.
 10. The playing field ofclaim 6, wherein: the planar member comprises a surface layer having aplurality of apertures therethrough, the surface layer affixed to anunderlying layer so that the apertures and the thickness of the surfacelayer define the size and depth of the cup-receiving recesses.
 11. Theplaying field of claim 10, wherein: the surface layer comprises apolymeric material.
 12. The playing field of claim 11, wherein: thepolymeric material is an ABS material.
 13. The playing field of claim 6,further comprising: a raised edge around a periphery of the playingsurface.
 14. The playing field of claim 13, wherein: the playing surfaceis from about six to about eight feet long and from about two to aboutthree feet wide; each cup-receiving recess has a diameter in the rangeof from about 2 to about 2.5 inches and a depth of about 0.25 inches;and a triangular arrangement of ten cup-receiving recesses is providednear each end of the playing surface, an apex of each triangulararrangement pointing at the opposite end of the playing surface.